It’s too cold for a clever title

Today was a totally snack-y day.  I didn’t even really do meals, I was just grazing all day long.  That’s the bad part about about having days off when the weather is only 15 degrees outside.  I broke the fast with a HUGE glass of chocolate soymilk followed by a CHOCOLATE loaded coffee. 

This stuff is THICK and sooooo good.  I am normally a silk soymilk girl, but this was on sale so I decided to give it a shot.  Man, was I in heaven.  It took all self control to not chug the entire carton on the spot.  I think I’ll be getting a lot more of this.

I did some research for this weekend while sipping my coffee.

Brekkie = 2 pieces of Alvarado street bread toasted to perfection with chunky delish soynut butter

LOVE this stuff.  The entire jar may be gone by tomorrow.

My apple for the day.  Crunch.

Vanilla o’soy yogurt plus chocolate soy milk and chopped up figs.  I think the figs all ducked for cover, but I guess I would too if I were submerged in chocolate and vanilla love :)

NOM NOM.

Later I got my act together and actually prepared some food for a late lunch. 

Alvarado street bread, greek yog, egg beaters and smart deli “turkey.” 

I was pretty full, so I finished some errands around the apartment and then headed to the gym to get my sweat on.  Considering I hadn’t been for a couple days, I wanted to make sure I had a good work out sesh. 

I’m always so aware of when my last work out was and whether or not it was a good one, I don’t know if it’s normal or not, really.  I love variety, so it doesn’t bother me that my routines are different throughout the week, but it makes me feel good when I do consecutive days of exercise, so it’s hard for me to justify days off.  I have finally gotten to the point where I have accepted (albeit somewhat reluctantly) that I just cannot go to the gym on the days I work.  Plain and simple. 

Back when I was in school, my body used to be able to do serious exercise sessions at the gym EVERY DAY.  But now, even though I think my sleep schedule is pretty much the same, my body refuses to cooperate.  When I first started my job, I pushed through it, determined to get in the exercise I wanted for myself.  But as my shifts got harder and longer and the pressures of being new at my job stressed me out, I realized my post-work exercising wasn’t even productive.  Lemme just say, after 12+ hour shifts, the motivation to get on a treadmill just doesn’t exist.  I was having horrible workouts and getting less sleep because I wasn’t even getting home from the gym until after 9, so I was eating dinner around 10, and that’s when I finally realized I had to make a change.  It took me 6 months of working AND going to the gym 7 days a week to finally give in to this.  But now I think my routine is healthier and more effective, which is the entire goal anyway. 

So sorry for the tangent, but I just wanted to say that THAT is why my work outs on my days off are SO precious to me.  Not in a creepy-possessive-gullom-from-Lord-of-the-Rings sort of way, just in a I-love-fitness kind of way.

After the gym I had some roasted BN squash with melty yummy Earth Balance drizzled on top.  When I said “drizzled” on top, I actually meant GOBBED on. 

Exhibit A: above photo with equal ratio of “butter” to squash

I did a bit more of mindless dried fruit snacking (papaya spears) while reading and burning cds for the car ride to VT. 

Look at the SIZE of these papaya spears.  The photo hardly does them justice, but I tried to put my bberry there for the sake of comparison.  I had about 5 or 6 of these.

For dinner I was trying to use up stuff in the fridge/apartment that would go bad while we were away for the weekend.  First, I polished off the lime flavored chips and salsa.

Then I baked some curry sweet potatoes, inspired by LovIN My Tummy’s fry challenge recipe from yesterday.

Curry does make everything better.

Since the amount of greens consumed thus far today has been pretty pathetic…I had a big ‘ol salad, too. 

Lettuce, brocc slaw, edamame, and baked tofu.

While sipping tea and meal planning for next week I watched this week’s ep of OC housewives.  I really like Jeanna.  She’s hilarious – making fun of the others in a clever way that’s maybe a little mean but comical enough to enjoy without feeling too guilty about it (hey, sometimes they are asking for it, right?). 

I’m on my THIRD box of Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride tea, you guys!!!

For dessert I polished off the rest of the coconut date rolls (don’t worry I already got another box) – hehe   :)

I LOVE these!!!  I can’t believe how freezing today was, I’m really in for a shock this weekend, because it’s supposed to be even MORE BRRR in Vermont.  I’m kinda nervous, but I’m packing 8 million layers and the cabin DOES have a fireplace :)

As for the projected forecast…

Weather for Ludlow, VT

Fri

20°F | 4°F

Sat

36°F | 25°F

Sun

40°F | 7°F

Looks like it’ll be a chilly one!!

‘Snice saves the day

What an AWFUL day.  Fortunately, I had a seriously awesome dinner to provide the light at the end of the tunnel through it all. 

Back to the beginning though…

Like most days, I stopped at Starbeezies for a coffee.  Unlike most days, I didn’t have chance to actually drink it until 10:30!!!  Can you even believe it!  I was SO swamped with work.  It seemed like no matter how much I did to catch up, stuff just kept piling up.  TOO MANY PATIENTS!!!  Blah.  Even though I kept reminding myself to stop. breathe. relax…it did little to alleviate the stress since ultimately my patients lives’ were at stake.  Bah. 

By the time 2 pm rolled around I was nowhere near ready to take my lunch break, and I just couldn’t step away for very long, so I ended up shoving my sandwich down my throat in 10 minutes flat. 

I felt like I had a bulge lodged in my throat when I ran back to the unit to continue working…not so pleasant. 

I finally managed to get a “lunch” break at 4 pm, so I headed to the ‘bucks to sit and stare out the window.  That’s right, I sat at the window and watched complete and utter nothingness for approx an hour straight – and it was wonderful.  Then I headed back to the flames (with much trepidation) for the rest of the shift.  The unit did start to settle around 7, so I managed to get off relatively on time.  Then I walked across town from 1st to 8th avenue for a fun dinner with my friend.  I didn’t realize how COLD it was outside, but as soon as I stepped into the restaurant I was so thrilled I didn’t even mind that I couldn’t feel my fingers or toes.

‘Snice IS nice!!

I loved everything from the atmosphere of this place to the decor, not to mention the FABULOUS menu :)

I started with a huge green tea, which warmed me right up.  It was bigger than it looks here (that’s a pint glass) with a really cool tea bag thingy.

Catching up with my girly was SO fun, but the food was TO DIE FOR!  I knew what I wanted before I got there, and even though there were several other delish looking items to tempt me…I stuck to my guns and got the Philly-style Seitan Sandwich with soy cheese, peppers, and onions.

Holy YUM!  This was SO savory and the cheese was all melty and each bite was better than the last.  I was in heaven.  The sandwich just about melted in my mouth.  I think I sounded like Meg Ryan in “When Harry Met Sally.”  I will def be going back here.  Lots.

My friend got the Fontina sandwich with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto, caramelized red onions and arugula panini. 

It looked good, but mine looked better ;)

We walked back to her place in the West Village after (only a few blocks) and we had some girly bonding time, while I tried on her ski clothes to borrow for this weekend.  Hooray for my Vermont ski getaway!!

I got home late, but still had room for these babies as dessert, and a mug of tea.  I am DOWNing this sugar cookie sleigh ride tea. 

Tea is slowly making it’s way into my PM get-ready-for-bed routine.  Anyone else have pre-sleep rituals?  I wash my face, brush and floss my teeth, and then lather on the lotion (I really can’t go to bed without putting on lotion either – I’ll obsess about it).  Nighty night.

bring on the VIPs (and the hummus)

White as far as the eye can see.  I love that I work on the 10th floor, because the view is really pretty, especially on super snowy days!  It was snowing all day, but I still managed to make it to the ‘bucks before work and on my lunch break.  I was the only person on the unit today, so I had all the patients.  Baller!  No but for reals it was kinda crazy.  One of my patients went into sinus tach and then desaturated to the 86% range even with 60% O2 face mask on…   basically needed some mad interventions.  Totally saved a life today, guys.  Anyways, I discharged one patient, but before I could even start my happy dance (for a decreased patient load) my boss told me I was going to take the VIP patient coming from a thoracotomoy/VATS/pneumonectomy procedure, so I AGAIN had the entire floor’s patient load.  Turns out, he’s the head of the board of directors of the hospital.  I was a bzzzzzzzzy bee but the good news was it made the time FLY by!  I didn’t get to take a lunch break until 2 pm, so I was hungry!

Sammie: smart deli “turkey,” lettuce, greek yog and LOTS of hummus

Along with the rest of the usual suspects…superfood odwalla bar, apple, and dried fruit medley (papaya spears, pineapple rings, and figs).  Add in a whole bunch of coffee, and that’s my day.

It was still snowing as I left work so I took the longer (but mostly underground and thus warm and dry in the subway) route home. 

If I calorie counted tonight’s dinner, I think I would end up depressed.  Seriously, I know rough figures, and it was not pretty people.

It all started with a MASSIVE hummus craving…and eventually led to some major pita consumption.  I stopped at the store on the way home from work because I had a monster headache and was in no shape to prepare food.  I got a packet of ww pitas (it was actually flat bread as I later discovered) and sabra classic hummus (what else?!). Duh.  I felt obligated to atleast try to get in some veggies, so I threw these carrots and celery on the plate – they ended up being mostly garnish, but I did have some.

More flat bread…which (by the way) are 250 kcals each (5 in a bag).

After my 4th piece I stopped making them look nice on the plate, and just started eating them out of the bag, ripping off pieces and slopping up the hummus.

I’m sure it’s no shock to anyone that I finished the entire bag of bread AND the tub of hummus…

I was totally full, but still managed to have an apple – to keep the doctor away. I’m so excited because Kyle’s boss is letting us use his cabin in Vermont for the weekend, so we are going to head up for the weekend and go skiing!  Woo hoo.  At least something good is coming out of this snow storm!  I haven’t gone skiing in years, so it will be interesting, if nothing else.

Sleeveless running

The weather cracked into the 40s today, time to celebrate!  I was so happy when I woke up, it was sunny out and I had the day off to enjoy the nice weather outside.

Here’s my morning cup of joe…along with some figs, carob covered raisins, and the crossword.  Talk about starting the day off right.  Since I woke up earlier than usual, I got hungry earlier than usual, so I made some french toast that I doused in Earth Balance.

This whole wheat Alvarado Street bread is good, maybe even better than the California style?  I headed out to do a few errands, and ended up in Barnes & Noble.  I could spend hours at that place, and I nearly did!!  I got 3 new books, thanks to a few peoples’ recs.  After I got back home I was ready to get my run on.  In honor of the amazing above freezing temps and sunshine, I wore a t-shirt!!!!  I went on a run through Central Park and (as usual) got totally lost, and ended up running for an hour.  Who knows where I even was or how long my run was, because it felt GREAT!  It’s supposed to snow on Wed, so this little moment of tolerable weather was just what I needed to get me through ‘til spring (or at least through the next storm). 

Once I got home I had an odwalla bar before heading back to the gym for a cool down and arm/ab work.  I did the elliptical on a low setting for 30 minutes then did stretching and some work on the mats.  Saweeeeet!  Love days like these :)

Post work out I had a platter of dried fruit (coconut date rolls, papaya, and pineapple rings), and two pieces of toast (generic ww bread) with Earth Balance.

I went shopping for my secret blogger valentine’s day gift in the PM along with other fun errands.  I got my nails did and a neck/back massage, which loosened me up quite a bit.  Hopefully my neck will get better now, otherwise a new pillow may be in order (thanks for the Andrea and Erin! 

I doodled and snacked on coconut date rolls before dinner.

For dinner I made a big salad with BBQ “chicken” (it was actually seitan).

I chopped up romaine and mixed it with Earthbound “fancy” lettuce along with edamame, corn, carrots, greek yog, and the entire container of BBQ seitan.  Sometimes big salads just hit the spot, and this one was perrrrfect.

So I was tagged by Erica to post 10 random things about myself…and since I think these things are fun, and 10 doesn’t seem overly taxing, here it goes!

1. I have a weakness for all dried fruits, and even have a ranking system for them, which changes on a (sometimes) daily basis.

2. I have lived in 2 countries, 3 states, and 5 cities (Barcelona, Spain, Lafayette and Los Angeles, CA, Philadelphia, PA, and NY, NY).

3. My living room at home (in CA) is bigger than my current apartment in Manhattan).

4. I met my boyfriend at our on-campus job at UCLA, looks like dipping my pen in the company ink worked out!!!  Going on 5 years…

5.  My first patient in nursing school pooped on me (like diarrhea down my leg over me).  It was at 8 am, and I had to work the rest of the shift, too – in brown stained stinky scrubs.

6.  My middle name is Claire, so my Dad calls me E-Claire and my Grandpa calls me chocolate.  It’s cute until you imagine what my conversations with the bank tellers have been over the various years trying to get birthday money cashed. 

7. I love crosswords.  I’m like a grandpa.  Seriously, give me a cup of coffee and the morning paper and I’m happy as a clam.

8. I can quote verbatim every episode of friends. Ever.

9. From Britney Spears to the Wicked soundtrack, my iTunes is packed and I love singing at the top of my lungs and having dance parties in my apartment (even if I’m the only one here).  I play the French Horn, so my musical taste is really refined.

10.  I almost went to a different college to play soccer, and at the LAST minute, changed my mind and opted to end my career.  It is SO weird to think how different my life would be had I pursued soccer in college.

Now I’m going to tag a few peeps: Andrea of CaretoEat, K of Ksgoodeats, and Missy of MissyMaintains – holla ‘atcha!

For dessert I had some massive dried papaya spears (it’s hard ot tell from the photo, but they were really big).

Plus an o’soy blueberry yogurt, which I MAY have dipped some dried figs into.  I have a fig obsession goin’ on right now. 

Peace out bloggies! 

superbowl sunday

So, today’s breakfast must have been subconsciously inspired by the Superbowl, since I had a super bowl of oats followed by another super bowl of soy yogurt with figs and raisins.

I think Bob’s Red Mill is my fave brand of oats now.  They are so fluffy, despite being “quick” oats.

I added in creamy peanut butter, carob covered raisins, and vanilla soy milk.  Carob covered raisins are amazing to add in to oats because they melt and you are left with a bowl of raisins along with a slight “chocolate” flavoring to your oats.  Plus 2 cups of frothy soy latte goodness.  Love the foam.

My second super bowl was o’soy vanilla yog with chopped up figs and raisins.

I think this might be my fave new mini-meal.  It kept me nice and energized (but not full) for the gym,

Since it had been 3 days since my last gym visit, I was pretty much bouncing off the walls excited to get my butt moving.  All work and no play…

Unfortunately the gym was packed to the brim with people trying to get in a pre-football workout.  I was stuck waiting in several lines to use each machine, kinda a workout buzz kill.  I ended up doing several sets of 30 minute routines since that’s the time limit when the gym is super busy.  If only everyone followed the same rules!!!  Ugh, I’ll have to get in a better sesh on Monday.  Either way I was happy to do something physical. 

Since we were going to be spending the night watching the game with friends at the Riviera cafe, I knew it would be prudent to eat before heading out.  Their menu has nothing remotely close to vegan or vegetarian.  I had an English muffin with hummus and an apple and bunch of grapes.

I also brought some midgame supplies, including dried edamame, assorted dried fruit, and an apple.

What a game!!  So much fun to hang out with friends and it was such an exciting game to the very end.  I was SO glad I took a vacation day from work – the superbowl is just one of those great American traditions that I really love (and would have hated to miss).

Once I got home I had the rest of the dried edamame with carob covered raisins.  Salty and sweet = perrrrrfect.  It’s like a trail mix (with only 2 ingreds).  After the dried edamame were polished off, I just had a few (handfuls) on their own. 

VeggieGirl changed my life when she introduced me to carob.

Anyways, since we got home just short of midnight, we were both pooped, and I was out within seconds of getting into bed.  Lately I have been waking up with my neck really sore, anyone have any ideas?  I only use one small pillow at night, but I’m thinking maybe I should get a bigger one for more support?  No idea, but I haven’t had full range of motion for the last 4 days, so I’m getting pretty over it.